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United States Patent | 5,007,803 |
DiVito ,   et al. | April 16, 1991 |
A compressed air-actuated pump includes a venturi nozzle to create a vacuum condition within a fluid-tight pump body to pump in a liquid or slurry. When a given level of liquid is pumped in, a control circuit closes a flexible sleeve of a pneumatically actuated pinch valve positioned in an exhaust passageway of the venturi nozzle. Upon closing of the pinch valve, the exhaust stream from the venturi nozzle is diverted into the pump body to create a pressurized condition therein whereby the liquid or slurry previously accumulated therein is pumped out. The pump also includes a pair of variable flow control valves for independently adjusting the flow rates of compressed air through the venturi nozzle in the vacuum, pump-in and in the pressurized, pump-out cycles. Solid state opto-electronic liquid level sensors or appropriate pneumatic, electric or electro-pneumatic timing devices are employed to signal the opening and closing of the pinch valve. The flexible sleeve of the pinch valve, as well as all other parts in the pump are constructed of chemically-resistant materials to permit the pumping of erosive, corrosive and abrasive liquids and slurries.
Inventors: | DiVito; Anthony M. (Youngstown, OH); Giesecke; Lee H. (Warren, OH) |
Assignee: | Global Pumps, Inc. (East Palestine, OH) |
Appl. No.: | 414092 |
Filed: | September 28, 1989 |
Current U.S. Class: | 417/137 |
Intern'l Class: | F04F 001/02 |
Field of Search: | 417/130,131,134,137,138,143,144,145,146-149,118,187,190 |
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4108418 | Aug., 1978 | Ensign et al. | 137/375. |
4126040 | Nov., 1978 | Varacins et al. | 73/293. |
4130140 | Dec., 1978 | Cerny et al. | 138/149. |
4583374 | Apr., 1986 | Franz et al. | 62/210. |
4630635 | Dec., 1986 | Bernstein et al. | 251/5. |
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4886432 | Dec., 1989 | Kimberlin | 417/478. |